Hey guys-

If you're in America, Happy Thanksgiving-ish? It's already passed. But oh welp! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this wholesome filler.

Without further adieu, I present to you...

C H A M O M I L E

amelie zabini

The moment we all arrived back at Hogwarts, I immediately headed back to my dorm. Everyone else attended their classes and ate lunch, but I decided to stay in. Before I left home, my mum and dad sat me down and talked about Zeno and I being in a relationship.

My mum is all for it, though my father was pretty hesitant about the whole idea. I mean, there really is nothing he can do regarding my relationship with Zeno. I live by the whole 'If my mum is okay with it, anyone else's opinion doesn't matter to me'. In the end, I found my father accepting the concept.

Good.

I knew I was missing class and important assignments. I knew I was missing out on silly conversations during lunch and maybe even dinner. But it's only one day without it, right? It's only one day, so I'll be fine.

Nuzzled up in the comfort of my own bed- my own sheets. The warmth underneath the duvet covers and the feather-filled pillow. I watched the sun kneel as the moon arose. Even then the moon was bright enough to glisten through the drapes.

Just the ticking of a clock or two in the room as I slept and woke up repetitively. Even though the clocks were ticking, time felt still.

Everything was still.

I had a lot of love for my twin brother, Zenith. In fact, it's guilty to even admit that I still do. But I can't beat myself up for this-. Zenith is my own flesh and blood. We bared in the same linens for 9 months. Had the same source of energy. Same source of food. We were practically the same.

Though far from the same.

Am I a bad person for feeling betrayed? It feels wrong to even feel bad. I feel bad mostly for Scarlett. No one should ever have to endure that - endure the emotional abuse.

It's painful to know that your own flesh and blood, your own brother, your own best friend, would even do such a thing to another person you love.

It was a difficult concept to grasp, though I had to grasp it tightly. It has happened. Zenith did it. It's in fine print. Bold lettering.

The blood we share shouldn't falter the actions he performed.

It's just heartbreaking.

He's my brother. And I'm heartbroken.

Mum cried to me before I left home. Told me that all she could do was blame herself. And for what? Mum did nothing wrong. Neither of my parents did anything wrong. They raised us perfectly. Neither of my parents ever put their hands on us. Threatened to, sure. But my mum and dad would never lay a finger on us.

We've never been manipulated before. Our parents brought us up with love and prosperity. With bravery and all. With all the love a parent could give.

It never made sense to my mum how Zenith would turn out that way. If I was given to chance to ask him 'Why?' I would. But I couldn't face him. I would break down and cry. And scream at him for being so bloody stupid.

I told my mum that he is his own person. Whatever he doesn't surely doesn't reflect on you or dad.

The supposed other half of me is far away. But who are we to blame but the predecessor himself?

Suck it up, Amelie. Actions have consequences.

I turn over in my four post miserably as I sigh and huff for air. Breathing wasn't satisfying. I can't even get a satisfying breath of air.

Suck it up, Amelie.

My clouded thoughts were soon interrupted when a knocking came from the large wooden door that barricaded the entrance of this damned dormitory.

Groaning out of exhaustion, I get up from my four post as I scurry towards the door with little to no energy.

"Coming," I let out with a sigh.

Upon arrival of the large wooden door, I pull onto the latched handle and swing the door open.

It's Zeno with a half smile and something wrapped around a napkin.

"I brought you garlic bread," he said lowly as he stepped into the room while I absently backed up to give him room, "You alright?"

Zeno bent over to place a small kiss onto my lips as I kissed him back. Two more pecks before he pulled away. He closed the door behind him as I started making my way towards the ottoman.

"I'm doing fine," I mumbled, "How's Scarlett? Is she alright?"

I took a seat on the tufted furniture as he set the garlic bread onto my dresser, then leaning against it shortly after.

"She's doing great, actually," Zeno responded through a smile, "She's giggling. Laughing. Smiling. But then again, it's Scarlett. You and I both know how well she hides her feelings."

"True," I speak softly.

I render a small moment of silence to completely submerge myself into the conversation, or the conversation that would soon prevail. I'm not entirely present, though I'm trying my best to be.

"I probably should've asked you," Zeno continued as he inched closer, "How do you feel about the whole thing with your brother?"

It was hard to compose the right words to make it seem like I'm not pitying the predecessor. In reality, I'm just astonished about the whole entire thing.

"Like you said. 'Actions have consequences'-."

"I-." Zeno interrupted, "I know what I said. I'm just asking how you feel about the whole thing. You seem off, which is completely understood."

"Is it really? I mean-. My brother mentally abused a girl who I also love dearly. But keep in mind that this is my twin brother. We-. I-."

"I know it must be hard, Mel. But you have to understand that he did this to hims-."

"And I'm fully aware of it, Zeno. I'm fully aware of what he did. The one thing I'm not fully aware of is why he did it. Is it a shame that I feel slightly upset about this? He's a bad man, but he's also my brother and it's painful not having him here. It's also painful that I'm fully aware of the torment that he's caused on not only Scarlett, but all of us. Am I unfair?"

I huffed after finishing my commotion of sentences.

Zeno just gazed into my eyes as if he were looking for words in my scleras. Words for him to say. To respond.

"Just-. You can go now, Zeno. I'm alright here. I just need some rest," I pestered as I sunk into my seat a bit more, "Plus, I know Scarlett needs you more than ever-."

"She insisted that I come here to check up on you, Mel," Zeno blurted. "I was going to check up on you anyway, but I planned on doing it after providing Scarlett the comfort. But she insisted that I come here to you, first."

Oh, Scarlett. Her heart is as big as ever. With that knowledge, it frustrates me even more to even think that my brother did all those things to her-.

"I'm here for you, Amelie. You can talk to me. Alright?" Zeno chimed in once more.

I got up from the comfortable seating and walked towards him. Pulling him close, I wrapped my arms around his neck and yanked him down towards me. Placing a gentle kiss unto his lips, his hands found their way down my lower back pressing, or pulling, me closer.

I back up and smile subtly.

"Thank you for letting me know, Zeno," I say softly, "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Another kiss before I pull away completely.

We find ourselves sitting on my bed facing one another. Legs crossed as all his attention is diverted onto me.

Sitting across him was a blessing, really. He had his hair relaxed; it wasn't gel'd up or styled in any particular way. He was natural today. I mean, he's always natural. Zeno had his uniform on, though the white button up beneath his cashmere vest had a few buttons undone near his collar.

Shoes off my bed, of course.

"What should I expect for these upcoming days?" Zeno queried.

"What do you mean?"

"It's no secret that you obviously feel a certain way about the whole thing with your brother not being here. And I know you don't condone his actions, but it's normal to feel hurt. Even if it wasn't you he manipulated, it still feels painful," Zeno mumbled, "Hell, it even hurts me."

The last five words were brittle and dampening. Zeno wore his emotions on his face without hesitation, which was faltered in a good way. That way it's easier to truly understand where he's coming from.

"We'll all find our ways around this. We surely won't forget what he did, but we can't let it get to us. Scarlett certainly can't let it get to her for the rest of her life. I hope over time she realizes that some things are never in one's control," I beckoned.

"I hope so, too."

We both sigh.

Gazing into one another's eyes with full attention and empathy. Moments like these I would usually share them with my close friends. Lola, Scarlett, Narsa.

But this time it was Zeno. And the tension between us right now wasn't sexual. It was tension that truly came from the heart. I've never actually been exposed to this type of love before, but it's something I'll definitely get used to pretty quickly. He's a passionate lover, and I'm a passionate learner.

We accommodate one another.

"How do you think your mental health will be like?" Zeno asked.

Whew. That's quite a question.

"Well," I say, "I always viewed my mental health as a garden. If you don't tend and care for it, you end up with weeds and unkempt grass. An array of disorderly things. However, it is when you take time to care for it and treat it well where you can grow flowers and make something beautiful."

Zeno mended himself into my response. It was giving him more of an understanding about me.

Which is good.

"And you? In general, what goes on in that head of yours, Xenophilius?"

He clenched his jaw as he broke eye contact, though he diverted his attention back onto me.

"I'll let you off this time," he scoffs with a dastard smile. "Um-. I mean, everyone gets anxious, right? About random things, I guess you could say. I-. I've struggled with trying to find ways to calm myself down during-. During panic attacks. Panic attacks? The ones where your world feels like it's closing up on you-."

"Yes, I know about those-."

"Right," he continues, "Well I get some of those out of nowhere. When crowds are too loud and such. Override of my senses, I guess. Things get too overwhelming and it's like my body-. My body wants to shut down. It's weird-."

"It's not weird," I assure him, "You're only human. It happens."

Zeno gave me a small smile as he took my hand. Raising it against his lips, he kissed my hand before placing it back down, rubbing the spot he gently kissed with his thumb continuously all while remaining softened eye contact.

"They were really bad when I was 13. But Oliver helped me through it all. He's eased them, if anything," Zeno continued, "And now you do, too."

I couldn't help but warm up at his words. It was heart warming knowing that I bring some sort of peace to him while his world feels like it's closing up on him.

"I'm glad they're not as bad as before," I smiled, "And I'm glad Oliver and I bring some inner peace."

"You've always brought peace to me, Mel."

Such a hopeless romantic. I am truly in love with this man.

"Since we were younger you radiated nothing but positive energy. Nothing but calming energy. You're like walking chamomile tea," Zeno softly chuckles.

I playfully roll my eyes at his corny joke.

"You and your teas," I mumbled through a smirk.

"What? I love teas! Comparing you to my favorite tea is not romantic?"

Both of us softly chuckled once more.

"It's romantic," I jeered, "You're romantic."

He smiled at me.

Leaned in for another kiss.

"I love you, Mel."

"I love you, Zeno."

****

Wholesome content. EEEEEEP. We love progression.

More chapters coming your way this week.

D I S C U S S I O N